Curtain stretcher



March 22 1927' F. BoNswo CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed June 14, 1924 v a P z a I. P.

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a curtain stretcher upon which Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

FLORENCE BONSWOR, 015 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

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Application filed. June 14,

This invention relates to curtain stretchers.

It is an object of the invention to provide a curtain may be folded while being stretched, and which consequently will be much more compact than a stretcher upon which a curtain must be extended the full length as in the present practice.

' A further object is to provide an improved mounting for the curtain engaging prongs so that the points of said prongs willbe shielded when not in use so as to decrease the likelihood of said prongs pricking the hands of theperson handling the device.

These and various other objects are attained by the construction hereinafter clescribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein,

.Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved curtain stretcher.

. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line 22 of Fig. 1, disclosing the adjustable mounting of the prongs.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the prongs showing their formation as an integralpair.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, disclosing an alternative mounting for the prongs.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a pair of the prongs as shown in Fig. 1

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a supporting bracket for a crossbar of the stretcher frame.

In these views the reference characters 1 and 2 designate the parallel side bars of a rectangular frame, and 3 and 4 designate crossbars of said frame. Said side bars and cross bars are adjustably connected by bolts 5 carrying winged nuts 6, said bolts passing through longitudinal slots 7 in said bars, whereby the size of the frame 1, 2, 3, 4: may be varied in either direction.

The extremities of the bars 1 and 2 are cut away as indicated at 8 for engagement by the end portions of the bars 3 and 4.

Each of the'bars 1, 2 and 3 is longitudinally slotted as indicated at 9 in its inner face, and into each slot 9 there is pressed a U- haped sheet metal retainer 10 for the curtain engaging prongs 11. The latter are preferably formed in pairs as the end portions of U-shaped wire elements 12, said end portions projecting upwardly transversely to the members 12 and the latter belng engaged within the sheet metal holders 10 and projecting through openings in the closed 1924.. Serial No. 719,951

outer walls of said members 10. Thus each pair of prongs 11 is adjustable in the holder 10 from the stored position shownin dash hnes in Fig. 2 to the position of use shown by full lines in said figure. In said stored position the points of the prongs are protected by flanges 13 which are formed upon each of the bars 1, 2 and 3 extending inwardly from the outer edge portion of the same. The sheet metal strip 10 may be rigidly retained in the slot 9 by merely having a pressed fit within said slot, or may be held fast in said slot by any suitable means.

Each of the bars 1, 2, 3 and 4: is provided with suitable scale marks as indicated at l l to permit the user of the device to readily adjust the frame to a definite, length and width to accommodate a certain size of curtain. 15 designates a bar which is extended across the described frame, being mounted upon the side bars 1 and 2. Said bar 15 is preferably detachably supported upon brackets 16 which may be formed of sheet metal and which are secured to the bars 1 and 2 by clamping bolts 17 engaged by wing nuts 18. arched portions 19 adapted to enter the longitudinal slots 20 of the bar 15 to support said bar. Said projections fit sufficiently snugly in said slots to hold the bar 15 firmly in place while permitting removal of said bar by a sulficient pull thereupon. To hold the brackets 16 from swinging about the bolts 17 it is preferred to provide tongues 21 upon said brackets, downwardly extending to enter the longitudinal slots 7 of the bars 1 and 2. I

The longitudinal edges of the bar 15 have a very gradual opposite arcuate curvature, as indicated at 15, for a purpose hereinafter explained. 22 designates a curtain mounted upon the frame 1, 2, 3, l.

In the use of the described invention the first step is to adjust the bars 1 and 2 according to the width of the curtain. .The latter is then transversely folded around the cross bar 15, and its ends are registered to engage with the prongs 11 of the bar 3. The curtain thus folded is then stretched by sliding the bar 15 toward the cross piece at of the frame, and when a sufficient tension has been established the brackets 16 are clamped fast upon the bars 1 and 2 by means of the wing nuts 18. The longitudinal edges of the curtain are then engaged with the prongs 11 of Said brackets have upstanding the side bars 1 and 2. The operation of mounting the curtain upon the frame is now completed and the same is left in position, following common practice, for a suitable length of time.

Because of the folded form which the curtain assumes upon the described stretcher, the length of the same is substantially onehalf that of such stretchers as are now commonly employed. Consequently the described stretcher with a curtain thereupon is much less awkward to carry than the present form of stretcher which extends the curtain its full length. Furthermore, while the curtain remains on the described stretcher, the same may be hung or otherwise disposed in a space much smaller than is required for a stretcher of the present type.

A further desirable feature of the described construction lies in its economy of material, since the side bars thereof may be substantially half the length of those required in the present practice, and a corresponding reduction is effected in the number of prongs necessary for engagement with the curtain.

It is desirable to have the edge of the bar 15 over which the curtain folds of a slightly arcuate form as shown, for the reason that the central portion of the curtain is slightly more yielding than the edge portion thereof,

and consequently must be extended in the process of stretching to a slightly greater eX- tent. This does not in any way alter the proper rectangular form of the curtain, but insures a uniform stretching of the same. The object of providing both edges of the bar 15 with a similar curvature is to permit said bar to reversibly engage either of said edges with the fold of the curtain.

The formation of the prongs 11 in pairs as described permits the user to shift said prongs to or from their position of use as they are needed. If, however, it is desired to adjust a larger number of said prongs in unison, this is provided for by the structure shown in Figures 4t and 5, wherein the paired prongs 23 have a connected portion 24: which is clamped in the U-shaped sheet metal holding strip 25 fitting slidably in the slot 27. In this construction the longitudinal edge portions of the holding strip are oppositely bent as indicated at 28 and engage in an enlarged portion 29 of the slot 26, said bent margins limiting the projecting and retract ing movement of the strip 25 and prongs 23 by engagement with the ends of the enlargement 29. Such a construct-ion permits any desired number of the paired prongs 23 to be rigidly engaged with a sheet metal holder 25 of a suitable length and to be shifted in unison to and from their position of use. Said position is indicated in dash lines in Figure 4, which figure also shows in full lines the stored position of said prongs.

What I claim is:

1. A curtain stretcher comprising a plurality of bars forming a rectangular frame, certain of said bars being longitudinally slotted, and a pair of sheet metal brackets engaging in the longitudinal slots of two of said bars and adjustable longitudinally of said slots, and having portions frictionally engageable in the longitudinal slot of another of said bars to detachably mount said bar upon the frame.

2. The combination with a grooved bar and a retaining strip extended in the groove of said bar, of a plurality of prongs engag ing said strip and definitely spaced by said strip and adjustable in said groove to and from said bar.

3. The combination with a grooved member, of a plurality of prongs carried by said member and a retaining strip for said prongs formed of sheet metal in arched form inserted in the groove of said member, the closed edge of said strip being adjacent the opening of said groove, and the prongs passing through openings in said closed edge.

4. In a curtain stretcher, the combination with a frame comprising two relatively transverse longitudinally slotted bars, of bracket member disposed between said bars,

and seating one thereof on the other, means engaging in the slot of one of said bars for positively securing said bracket to said bar in selective positions of adjustment lengthwise of the bar, and a projection upon said bracket proportioned to enter the slot of the other bar under a predetermined pressure, such that by the application of a greater pressure, the bar engaging said projection may be quickly released therefrom.

5. In a curtain stretcher, the combination with a retaining strip formed of sheet metal, bent to an arched form, of a plurality of U shaped members engagin said retaining strip, the legs of each -shaped member forming prongs for engagement with a curtain.

6. In a curtain stretcher, a pair of relatively transverse longitudinally slotted bars, and a bracket for connecting said bars having integral projections for respectively entering the slots of said bars, and means for clamping said bracket to one of said bars, the projection of said bracket engaging the other bar being proportioned to form a sole retaining means for said bar by frictional engagement with the walls of the slot of said bar.

7. In a curtain stretcher, a pair of relatively transverse bars, one thereof being formed with a longitudinal slot, and a sheet metal bracket carried by the other of said bars and formed with a U-bend entering said slot and frictionally engaging the walls of said slot and thereby detachably connecting the two bars. 1

8. In a curtain stretcher, the combination slot of the slotted bar, and adapted to main- K with two relatively transverse bars, one tain a connection between said bars solely thereof being longitudinally slotted, of a by frictional contact with the Walls of said 10 sheet metal bracket arranged between said slot.

5 bars, and seating one thereof upon the other, In testimony whereof I sign this specificasaid bracket being integrally formed with a tion. projection proportioned to snugly fit in the FLORENCE BONSWOR. 

